Seventeen buses of toys and one flatbed truck of bicycles collected for children in need
ORANGE – Santa Claus rode into town and, with the help of very generous donors, collected a record number of toys in the 21st annual Stuff-A-Bus event on Friday, Dec. 20 at the Honda Center.
In all, 17 buses were filled with toys along with one flatbed truck filled with bicycles during the 14-hour event. This year’s total of 18 bested last year’s record of 14 buses stuffed.
The event, sponsored by the Orange County Transportation Authority, ABC7, Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks, supports the Spark of Love toy drive. The toys will be distributed this holiday season to children in need across Orange County.
Firefighters from across Southern California joined ABC7 weatherman Garth Kemp to greet the public and help stuff the buses with new, unwrapped toys. OCTA Chairman Greg Winterbottom and Director Gail Eastman, also an Anaheim Councilwoman, and OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson stopped by to lend a hand.
“It’s truly heartwarming to see the community donate so generously to the Stuff-A-Bus event and to remember those who need a little help to make the holidays more bright,” Winterbottom said.
The Spark of Love toy drive has collected more than 7 million toys for children over the past two decades. Firefighters from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties have supported the Spark of Love toy drive for more than 20 years.
